Also known as AARP, The Hartford was the recipient of the 2016 J.D. Power study for car insurance companies ability to handle claims. The Hartford scored 5/5 stars for nearly every step of the claims process; from notifying them, to the repair process, and the final settlement. Those who think a smooth claims process is the most important factor for car insurance, The Hartford should definitely be considered.

After our analysis of 2,700 cities and 128 companies, we found that Erie was the most affordable major insurer in the country with an average yearly rate of $1,052 based on our sample driver - about 31% cheaper than the national average across every insurer. The very largest of the five is GEICO, the second largest auto insurer in the U.S. by market share.

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Erie also offers discounts for antique or classic cars that are driven at very low-mileage – for example, 500 miles or less per year. In most states, we also offer a reduced usage discount when your vehicle is laid up for 90 consecutive days or longer. So you may find that insuring your collector car with us could even cost you less than a standard auto policy.

While sleek and elegant, your collector car may not meet today's safety standards and pose too big a risk to insure under a standard car policy. Even if your classic stays in the garage and is never driven, there's still the risk of fire, theft or an accident, which likely aren't covered by home insurance. Luckily, a classic car policy can provide a range of coverages and top replacement value, to seal all those gaps.

In the end, you’ll need to determine your exact needs when it comes to coverage and then shop for an affordable policy. Always remember: just because an auto insurance policy is cheap doesn’t mean it’s the best. Picking a policy based on price alone would be like picking a restaurant based on price alone, then being forced to eat there every day for the next year.
Cheap auto insurance doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. You just need to know where to look and what to look for in an auto policy. Savvy auto insurance customers can benefit from the regular price adjustments and the introduction of new discounts by an auto insurance carrier, if they shop. So, are you getting the best value at the best price?
Every auto insurer advertises its low premiums. But as with any product, the cheapest car insurance option isn't always the best choice. Considering what's at stake, it's worth doing your research to discover an auto insurance policy that insures your car completely after a collision. Find a great value, rather than settling for the most affordable auto insurance in your state.

The company’s discounts are numerous, varied, and designed to reward you, not just your car. It offers deductions for paying your premium on time, signing up for a policy early, and it even offers discounts for continuous coverage (renewing your policy before it expires). These types of discounts are less common than you might think, and they demonstrate that Travelers doesn’t just want to save money for its new customers — it’s concerned with keeping its old ones happy, too.

Progressive offers extensive coverage options, including gap loan/lease payoff coverage. If you total a car that you’re still paying off, gap loan coverage will help pay the remainder of your loan — because nobody wants to be stuck making car payments on a car that’s been written off. Progressive also offers pet injury coverage, which comes free if you add collision coverage to your package. And if you drive for Lyft or Uber, Progressive has you covered: Just look for for-hire livery insurance.
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Travelers is more than 160 years old, making it one of the oldest insurance companies operating today. In fact, Travelers issued its first auto insurance policy in 1897, before the Ford Model-T was invented. The company has over 30,000 employees and 13,500 independent agents and brokers in multiple countries—including the United States, Canada, and Brazil.
At The Zebra, we know better than most just what a pain buying car insurance can be. We also know that students suffer from higher-than-average policy rates. Talk about a double-whammy. That’s why, this year, we’ve decided to continue The Zebra’s annual scholarship with the goal of helping to alleviate the financial pressures of college-bound students in Virginia, while also getting an insider view of the Old Dominion State.
By contrast, classic auto insurance usually covers your collectible vehicle for an agreed (often called “guaranteed”) value that is mutually agreeable to you and the insurance company – an amount the automobile is worth based on respected collectible car valuation guides like the Old Cars Report Price Guide, an appraisal by a professional, research conducted by the underwriter, or some form of documentation. For instance, if you own a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air with an 8-cylinder engine and 162 horsepower, Hagerty, a leading insurer of collectible cars, would value that at about $61,000. If you have a collectible car insurance policy in place and that vehicle suffers a total loss, the insurer will compensate you the full $61,000.

This is in contrast to standard car insurance, which typically reimburses you for the car's actual cash value - the original value, minus the amount it's depreciated over time. If, for example, you purchased your car for $25,000, but 5 years later it's now worth $9,000, then that's the amount your insurer would likely pay out if it's totaled. Guaranteed Value™ coverage helps assure this isn't the case for your beloved ride.

The car your drive makes a big difference in your insurance rate. Vehicles built for performance, with high MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price), and foreign-built models are often costlier to insure. Vehicles that don't cost as much to repair or aren't built for faster driving — such as vans and sedans — are correspondingly cheaper to insure.

Liberty Mutual is one of the top insurance companies in the U.S. and has been around for over 100 years. Liberty Mutual also has large international presence—with operations in 17 countries. The international companies sell property and casualty, health and life insurance policies. The auto insurance industry is a large part of Liberty Mutual’s business, representing 36% of their net written premium from insurance as of their latest annual report.

Compare popular auto insurance companies' financial stability and claims satisfaction ratings to better understand the quality of service they will provide. Claims satisfaction — measured by J.D. Power — is ranked on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being "among the best" and 2 being "the rest." Financial strength — calculated by A.M. Best and running from "Superior" to "Poor" — determines an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its policy and contractual obligations.

Erie also offers discounts for antique or classic cars that are driven at very low-mileage – for example, 500 miles or less per year. In most states, we also offer a reduced usage discount when your vehicle is laid up for 90 consecutive days or longer. So you may find that insuring your collector car with us could even cost you less than a standard auto policy.

Be aware of certain terminology, and ask that your insurance company explain things in a careful and concise manner to avoid confusion. For instance, normal cars are insured for Actual Cash Value - the "book" value that depreciates with age. Classic cars might be insured for their Stated Value or Agreed Value. In those cases, you would state a value for your car and your car insurance company would agree to pay up to that amount.
Like regular car insurance, there are several parts with classic and collector car insurance. Some insurers like J.C. Taylor require your classic car be at least 19 years old, while others like Grundy will insure a car of any age. Availability of discounts should also be a consideration, as Safeco gives you a percent off your premium if you bundle your classic car policy with a regular auto policy. Another underrated feature is an inflation guard, which will increase your protection limits as your car appreciates in value. You can see a full list of each company's benefits below.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 5-Star Safety Ratings Program provides consumers with information about the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles, with more stars equaling safer cars. We examined 2016 model year vehicles for which ratings are available to compile the list of most affordable to insure for teen drivers.